Corrosion arrestor for use in fire extinguishers



20, 1964 c. K. HUTHSING, JR 3,153,453

CORROSION ARRESTOR FOR USE IN FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Filed Sept. 20, 1961 INVENTOR. CHARAES Q HUT/#514161 2 R A TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,153,453 CORROSION ARRESTOR FOR USE IN FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Charles K. Huthsing, Jr., 1685 Shermer Road, Northbroolr, Ill,

FiledSept. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 139,450 2 Claims. (Cl. 169-30) This invention generally relates to apparatus for controlling and arresting corrosion of the interior of fire extinguisher tanks and parts disposed therein. More particularly, the invention relates to certain types of fire extinguishers which employ fire extinguishing fluids which may include traces of water and/ or acids.

The corrosion problems associated with such extin guishers are set forth in some detail in Patent No. 2,563,171, entitled Apparatus for Controlling Corrosion in Fire Extinguishers and issued to Charles K. Huthsing, Jr., on August 7, 1951. It is not believed necessary, therefore, to review in detail the basic theory of the problem towards which the present invention is directed.

The present invention has as its primary purpose the provision of a corrosion arrestor for a fire extignuisher which may be readily positioned within the interior of a fire extinguisher tank and securely retained inplace, and yet which may be conveniently and simply replaced without dismantling any parts of the extinguisher.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved corrosion arrestor for a fire extinguisher which is so constructed that it may be readily positioned and retained within the interior of a fire extinguisher tank.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved corrosion arrestor fora fire extinguisher which is of a relatively simple and easily fabricated construction.

Another further object of the present invention is to provide an improved corrosion arrestor for a fire extinguisher which may be quickly removed if necessary and replaced with a new unit.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved corrosion arrestor for a fire extinguisher which is efficiently shaped from the standpoint of maximum use of the sacrificial material employed, and yet which is also shaped for secure coupling to an internal component of the extinguisher tank as well as for expeditious manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are generally attained by providing an elongated spring clip of solid magnesium formed with a generally U-shaped cross section and designed to be sprung onto a cylindrically shaped member in coupled relationship thereto. The cylindrically shaped member may comprise a siphon tube, pumping chamber, or othermemher which may extend down into the interior of the fire extignuisher tank.

Of course, the invention is only applicable to fire extinguishers which include a tank and parts disposed therein formed of metals lower on the electro-chemical scale than magnesium such that the water and/ or acids which may be disposed in the fire extinguisher fiuid in the tank will be attracted to and attack the magnesium rather than the other metal materialsconstituting thetank and parts therein.

a A better understanding of the present invention will be had by reference to the drawings showing an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view, partially in section, illustrating the interior of a fire extinguisher tank, the head portion of the extinguisher not being shown;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the siphon tube of the extinguisher of FIGURE 1 hav- "ice ing coupled thereto the improved corrosion arrestor according to the present invention; and,

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the corrosion arrestor, as such, as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURE 1 is a fire extinguisher embodying a tank 10 having metal sidewallsll. The tank 10 is provided with a bottom closure 12. v

The tank 10 has axially extending therethrough a cylindrically shaped pump chamber 13 and a siphon tube 14, also of circular cross section. The pump chamber 13 and siphon tube 14 have their opposite ends supported, respectively, in members 15 and 16. The particular shape and structure of members 15 and 16 is not deemed a part of the present invention nor are the particular dimensions of the pump cylinder 13 and siphon tube 14. It is important, however, from the standpoint of the present invention that at least one cylindrical member be disposed within the tank 10.

As a primary feature of the present invention, there is shown disposed about the siphon tube 14 an elongated spring clip-like member 17 formed of solid magnesium. The member 17 functions as a sacrificial anode in exactly the same manner as the member 26 heretofore referred to in Patent No. 2,563,171.

As more clearly shown in the view of FIGURES 2 and 3, the member 17 is generally U-shaped and more particularly has a split ring-like cross section modified by'having the free edges provided with reversed bends or turned back at 13 and 19 in contrast to the nominal circular cross section.

It is, of course, essential'to the proper operation of the anode magnesium clip 17 that the tank 10, sidewalls 11, and internal parts 13, 14, 15, and 16 (as well as others not described) be characterized by or consist of metals lower on the electro-chemical scale than magnesium. Usually, the metals used for such standard parts are steel, brass, Zinc, or the like and the magnesium clip 17 will properly perform its function of removing traces of water and/or acid which might tend to corrode the internal structure of the extinguisher tank 10.

It will be clearly evidence that by providing the clip 17 in the form illustrated in the drawings, it may be readily replaced in the event it becomes corroded and its efiiciency is decreased. Furthermore, its initial installation is very simple by merely springing it into position over either the pump cylinder 13 or the siphon tube 14. For purposes of illustration, the clip 17 has been shown of dimensions to be sprung over the siphon tube 14.

It is, of course, desirable that the clip 17 be formed of sufficiently thin material such that it may be manually sprung onto the siphon tube 14, for example, and yet be sufliciently thick that it will not be susceptible of immediate deterioration.

For illustrative purposes, a satisfactory unit has been made up which is three inches long, has a nominal internal diameter of inch, has a thickness of .067 inch, and has a minimum width between its opposing endsof inch.

Although it is not believed essential to the requirements of the invention, as pointed out in Patent No. 2,563,171, it is apparent that the opposite ends or edges 18 and 19 of the clip 17 will form a positive electrical contact between the siphon tube 14 and the clip 17. Such contact is believed to have certain electro-chemical advantages from the standpoint of having corrosion attack the clip 17 rather than the part 14, for example.

Also, it isto be noted that the clip 17 is shaped. such that substantially corrosion Which improves the operation of the clip in its function as a corrosion arrestor.

Other advantages will be evident to those skilled in the art.

It will be appreciated, however, that certain varia tions and modifications may. be made in the generally U-shaped clip Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a fire extinguisher including a tank and parts disposed therein formed of metals lower on the electrochemical scale than magnesiurm the combination comprising: an elongated cylindrical member disposed and supported Within the interior of said tank; and an elongated spring clip of I solid magnesium of generally U.- shaped cross section designed to be sprung onto said cylindrical member in coupled relationship thereto.

2. In a fire extinguisher including a tank and parts disposed therein formed of metals lower on the electrochemical scale than magnesium, the combination comprising: an elongated cylindrical member disposed and that said reversed bendsengage said cylindrical member.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,297,024 Smith Mar. 11, 1919 1,464,001 Iddings' L; Aug. 7, 1923 Huthsing Aug. 7, 1951 

1. IN A FIRE EXTINGUISHER INCLUDING A TANK AND PARTS DISPOSED THEREIN FORMED OF METALS LOWER ON THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SCALE THAN MAGNESIUM, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL MEMBER DISPOSED AND SUPPORTED WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF SAID TANK; AND AN ELONGATED SPRING CLIP OF SOLID MAGNESIUM OF GENERALLY USHAPED CROSS SECTION DESIGNED TO BE SPRUNG ONTO SAID CYINDRICAL MEMBER IN COUPLED RELATIONSHIP THERETO. 